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Jeering fans offer ultimate humiliation for Brazil

After their crushing win, it is safe to say that the era of German dominance is upon us

Matt Dickinson

July 9 2014, 1:01am, The Times

Oscar lies on the pitch after Brazil were defeated by 7-1 Germany in their semi-finalFrancois Xavier Marit / Getty Images

The ultimate humiliation was saved for last when the Brazil players gathered in the middle of the pitch and tried to applaud those supporters who had not already fled the embarrassment.

As the jeers rolled off the terraces, the humbled members of the Selecao were forced to abandon the gesture, many sobbing as they fled down the tunnel. It can only be wondered how long it will take them, and Brazilian football, to recover from torment on such a scale.

The old men who have been telling the stories of Brazil’s greatest humiliation, the 2-1 defeat by Uruguay in the World Cup final of 1950, were made redundant last night. Brazil has a modern embarrassment of a magnitude that surely eclipses the infamous Maracanazo.